Independents

Could New Recruiting Rule Hurt Texas?

<p>The Texas Longhorns are well known for their success in recruiting. It's not uncommon for them to be essentially finished recruiting before their season even begins (even though signing day doesn't come until February). But a <a href="http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/footbal...v=ap&amp;type=lgns">new rule</a> could put a chink in the armor. </p> <p>The rule states that a publicly designated head coach in waiting is bound by the same recruiting rules as the current head coach. That's to prevent teams with designated successors from gaining a recruiting advantage. The NCAA has sought to curb off-campus recruiting by head coaches but the new rule effectively limits assistants in waiting as well. Texas and Maryland were given a one-year reprieve, but not an indefinite one. </p>
<p>Given how easily it seems that the 'Horns gobble up talent, perhaps they'd laugh at any such rule. Do they really need their entire staff of assistants out recruiting? But without knowing what the mechanics of the Longhorn recruiting machine are, it could make life more difficult for them. And if it did, Texas would have an interesting decision to make. Do they push Mack Brown toward retirement sooner? Do they remove the "next head coach" label from Muschamp? Neither one, necessarily sounds good for their program</p>
<p>On the other hand, does a public succession plan help anyone but Muschamp? Within a coaching staff, it can create as much uncertainty as it eliminates. If this is the next head coach, should I be listening to him more than the head man? If I don't like the next guy, should I be looking for another job? In the locker room it's the same case, particularly for underclassmen. Do I seek to impress the head man or the NEXT head man? It certainly hasn't seemed to help Maryland at all. What about the fans? If the defense is playing really well but the offense is struggling (as you could imagine heading into 2010), do the fans start screaming for Brown to retire?</p>
<p>Texas has managed to deal with any distraction Muschamp's title causes extremely well up until now. They did just play in the national championship game more than a year after Muschamp was the announced successor. But now there's one more reason not to like it. Will it become an important one? If so, things could get real interesting down in Austin. </p><div class="feedflare">
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The Texas Longhorns are well known for their success in recruiting. It's not uncommon for them to be essentially finished recruiting before their season even begins (even though signing day doesn't come until February). But a new rule could put a chink in the armor.

The rule states that a publicly designated head coach in waiting is bound by the same recruiting rules as the current head coach. That's to prevent teams with designated successors from gaining a recruiting advantage. The NCAA has sought to curb off-campus recruiting by head coaches but the new rule effectively limits assistants in waiting as well. Texas and Maryland were given a one-year reprieve, but not an indefinite one.

Given how easily it seems that the 'Horns gobble up talent, perhaps they'd laugh at any such rule....

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